Absalom and Achitophel

E539401

Absalom and Achitophel is a celebrated 1681 political satire in verse by John Dryden that allegorically critiques the Exclusion Crisis in Restoration England through a biblical narrative.

All labels observed (4)

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Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf poem
political satire
verse satire
allegoricalTimePeriod reign of Charles II
linked to: Stuart period
allegoricalTo Exclusion Crisis
author John Dryden
basedOn biblical story of Absalom’s rebellion against King David
countryOfOrigin England
firstPublicationPlace London
linked to: London, England
followedBy Absalom and Achitophel, Part II
genre political poetry
satire
hasCharacter Absalom
Achitophel
David
Zimri
historicalContext Restoration England
influenced later English political satire
language English
literaryForm poetry
literaryMovement Neoclassicism
Restoration literature
literaryTechnique allegory
allusion to Scripture
satirical characterization
mainTheme loyalty and treachery
monarchy and political power
rebellion against legitimate authority
succession crisis
meter heroic couplets
narrativeMode third-person narrative
notableFor complex political allegory
portrayal of contemporary politicians as biblical figures
skillful use of heroic couplets
opposes Exclusionists
Whig leaders
originalMedium print
politicalAlignment royalist
politicalContext Exclusion Crisis
publicationYear 1681
setting biblical Israel
linked to: Ancient Israel
supports King Charles II
timePeriodDepicted reign of King David
usesCharacterAsAllegoryFor Absalom – James Scott, Duke of Monmouth
Achitophel – Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury
David – King Charles II of England
ZimriRepresents George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

John Dryden notableWork Absalom and Achitophel
Nahum Tate notableWork Absalom and Achitophel (second part)
linked to: Absalom and Achitophel
Absalom and Achitophel followedBy Absalom and Achitophel, Part II
linked to: Absalom and Achitophel
Absalom and Achitophel hasCharacter Achitophel
linked to: Absalom and Achitophel